1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education; modifying teacher licensure requirements; addressing teacher
1.3 shortages; requiring rulemaking; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
1.4 122A.06, subdivision 6; 122A.09, subdivision 9; 122A.091, subdivision 5;
1.5 122A.181, subdivisions 1, 1a, 3, 4, 5; 122A.182, subdivisions 1, 2b, 3, 4.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.06, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
1.8 Subd. 6.Shortage area."Shortage area" means:
1.9 (1) licensure fields and economic development regions reported by the Professional
1.10Educator Licensing and Standards Board as experiencing a teacher shortage, including the
1.11number of assignments a school district is unable to fill with a licensed teacher by November
1.121 of every even-numbered year; and
1.13 (2) economic development regions where the aggregate percentage of Indigenous teachers
1.14and teachers of color in the region is lower than the aggregate percentage of kindergarten
1.15through grade 12 Indigenous students and students of color in that region. Only individuals
1.16who close the gap between these percentages qualify as filling a shortage by this definition.
1.17 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
1.18 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.09, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
1.19 Subd. 9.Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules.(a)
1.20The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules subject to the
1.21provisions of chapter 14 to implement sections 120B.363, 122A.05 to 122A.09, 122A.092,
1.22122A.16, 122A.17, 122A.18, 122A.181, 122A.182, 122A.183, 122A.184, 122A.185,
1Sec. 2.
25-04817 as introduced03/12/25 REVISOR CR/CH
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 3168NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: DUCKWORTH)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading04/01/2025
Referred to Education Policy 2.1122A.187, 122A.188, 122A.19, 122A.20, 122A.21, 122A.23, 122A.26, 122A.28, 122A.29,
2.2and 124D.72.
2.3 (b) The board must adopt rules relating to fields of licensure and grade levels that a
2.4licensed teacher may teach, including a process for granting permission to a licensed teacher
2.5to teach in a field that is different from the teacher's field of licensure without change to the
2.6teacher's license tier level. A permission granted under this paragraph is valid for five years,
2.7except for a permission to teach special education. A permission in the field of special
2.8education is valid for three years.
2.9 (c) If a rule adopted by the board is in conflict with a session law or statute, the law or
2.10statute prevails. Terms adopted in rule must be clearly defined and must not be construed
2.11to conflict with terms adopted in statute or session law.
2.12 (d) The board must include a description of a proposed rule's probable effect on teacher
2.13supply and demand in the board's statement of need and reasonableness under section 14.131.
2.14 (e) The board must adopt rules only under the specific statutory authority.
2.15 (f) The board must adopt rules to provide a short-term provisional teaching license to
2.16an applicant who meets at least one of the following criteria during the 30 days that their
2.17application is reviewed by the board:
2.18 (1) the applicant is a recent graduate from a state-approved teacher preparation program;
2.19 (2) the applicant holds a valid out-of-state teaching license;
2.20 (3) the applicant holds a lifetime substitute license; or
2.21 (4) the applicant previously held a Minnesota teaching license in good standing.
2.22 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025, except paragraph (f) is
2.23effective the day following final enactment.
2.24 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.091, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
2.25 Subd. 5.Supply and demand report.The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
2.26Board must submit a report to the education committees of the legislature by November 1,
2.272025, and November 1 of each even-numbered year thereafter, on the supply and demand
2.28of teachers. The report must be made available on the board's website. The report must
2.29include data regarding:
2.30 (1) retirement patterns;
2.31 (2) teacher licensure;
2Sec. 3.
25-04817 as introduced03/12/25 REVISOR CR/CH 3.1 (3) teacher diversity, including whether the state's teacher workforce reflects the diversity
3.2of the state's student population;
3.3 (4) the teacher shortage, and the substitute teacher shortage, including patterns and
3.4shortages in licensure field areas and the economic development regions of the state the
3.5number of teachers hired in the preceding two years, the number of teachers hired at each
3.6licensure tier level, the number of assignments each school district was unable to fill with
3.7a licensed teacher, and the licenses and permissions for license fields without a
3.8board-approved preparation program by economic development region;
3.9 (5) survey data from school districts and teacher preparation programs; and
3.10 (6) whether districts are making progress in hiring teachers and substitute teachers in
3.11the areas of shortage.
3.12 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
3.13 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.181, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.14 Subdivision 1.Application requirements.The Professional Educator Licensing and
3.15Standards Board must approve an application for a Tier 1 license in a specified content area
3.16if:
3.17 (1) the application has been submitted jointly by the applicant and the district;
3.18 (2) (1) the application has been paid for by the district or the applicant;
3.19 (3) (2) the applicant meets the professional requirement in subdivision 2; and
3.20 (4) the district or charter school affirms that the applicant has the necessary skills and
3.21knowledge to teach in the specified content area;
3.22 (5) (3) the district or charter school applicant demonstrates that a criminal background
3.23check under section 122A.18, subdivision 8, has been completed on the applicant; and.
3.24 (6) the district or charter school has posted the teacher position but was unable to hire
3.25an acceptable teacher with a Tier 2, 3, or 4 license for the position.
3.26 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
3.27 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.181, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
3.28 Subd. 1a.Special education requirements.(a) The Professional Educator Licensing
3.29and Standards Board must approve an application for a Tier 1 license in a special education
3.30field if:
3Sec. 5.
25-04817 as introduced03/12/25 REVISOR CR/CH 4.1 (1) the application meets all the requirements under subdivision 1;.
4.2 (2) the (b) A district or charter school affirms that hiring a Tier 1 licensed special
4.3education teacher must provide the applicant will receive with high-quality professional
4.4development that is sustained, intensive, and classroom focused in order to have a positive
4.5and lasting impact on classroom instruction, before and while teaching;.
4.6 (3) the (c) A district or charter school affirms that hiring a Tier 1 licensed special
4.7education teacher must allow the applicant will to participate in a program of intensive
4.8supervision that consists of structured guidance and regular ongoing support for teachers
4.9or a teacher mentoring program; and.
4.10 (4) (d) The applicant demonstrates satisfactory must demonstrate progress toward
4.11professional licensure during the term of their Tier 1 license.
4.12 (b) (e) A teacher with a Tier 1 license in a special education field may assume the
4.13functions as a teacher for a period of time not to exceed three years.
4.14 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
4.15 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.181, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
4.16 Subd. 3.Term of license and renewal.(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and
4.17Standards Board must issue an initial Tier 1 license for a term of one year three years. A
4.18Tier 1 license may be renewed subject to paragraphs (b) and (c).
4.19 (b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must renew a Tier 1
4.20license if:
4.21 (1) the district or charter school requesting the renewal demonstrates that it has posted
4.22the teacher position but was unable to hire an acceptable teacher with a Tier 2, 3, or 4 license
4.23for the position;
4.24 (2) (1) the teacher holding the Tier 1 license took a content examination in accordance
4.25with section 122A.185 and submitted the examination results to the teacher's employing
4.26district or charter school within one year of the board approving the request for the initial
4.27Tier 1 license;
4.28 (3) (2) the teacher holding the Tier 1 license participated in cultural competency training
4.29consistent with section 120B.30, subdivision 8, within one year of the board approving the
4.30request for the initial Tier 1 license; and
4.31 (4) (3) the teacher holding the Tier 1 license met the mental illness training renewal
4.32requirement under section 122A.187, subdivision 6.
4Sec. 6.
25-04817 as introduced03/12/25 REVISOR CR/CH 5.1The requirement in clause (2) (1) does not apply to a teacher that teaches a class in a career
5.2and technical education or career pathways course of study.
5.3 (c) A Tier 1 license must not be renewed more than three times, unless the requesting
5.4district or charter school applicant can show good cause for additional renewals. A Tier 1
5.5license issued to teach (1) a class or course in a career and technical education or career
5.6pathway course of study, or (2) in a shortage area, as defined in section 122A.06, subdivision
5.76, may be renewed without limitation.
5.8 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
5.9 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.181, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
5.10 Subd. 4.Application.The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must
5.11accept and review applications for a Tier 1 teaching license beginning July June 1 of the
5.12school year for which the license is requested; at the board's discretion, the board may begin
5.13to accept and review applications before July June 1.
5.14 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
5.15 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.181, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
5.16 Subd. 5.Limitations on license.(a) A Tier 1 license is limited to the content matter
5.17indicated on the application for the initial Tier 1 license under subdivision 1, clause (4), and
5.18limited to the district or charter school that requested the initial Tier 1 license.
5.19 (b) A Tier 1 license does not bring an individual within the definition of a teacher for
5.20purposes of section 122A.40, subdivision 1, or 122A.41, subdivision 1, clause (a).
5.21 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
5.22 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.182, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
5.23 Subdivision 1.Requirements.The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
5.24Board must approve an application for a Tier 2 license in a specified content area if:
5.25 (1) the application has been submitted jointly by the applicant and the district;
5.26 (2) the application has been paid for by the district or the applicant;
5.27 (3) the applicant holds a bachelor's degree, unless specifically exempt by statute or rule;
5.28 (4) the district demonstrates that a criminal background check under section 122A.18,
5.29subdivision 8, has been completed for the applicant; and
5Sec. 9.
25-04817 as introduced03/12/25 REVISOR CR/CH 6.1 (5) the applicant:
6.2 (i) has completed a state-approved teacher preparation program;
6.3 (ii) is enrolled in a Minnesota-approved state-approved teacher preparation program; or
6.4 (iii) has a master's degree in the specified content area; or
6.5 (iv) has at least two years of prior teaching experience in any state with positive
6.6evaluations.
6.7 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
6.8 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.182, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:
6.9 Subd. 2b.Temporary eligibility for renewal.(a) From July 1, 2023, until June 30,
6.102024, the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must approve an application
6.11for a Tier 2 license that meets the coursework requirement under subdivision 2, and other
6.12requirements under subdivision 1, clauses (1), (2), (3), and (4).
6.13 (b) For the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 school years only, the Professional
6.14Educator Licensing and Standards Board must approve an application to renew a Tier 2
6.15license for an applicant that met the Tier 2 requirements in effect at the time the first Tier
6.162 license was issued. Nothing in this subdivision modifies the renewal requirements in
6.17subdivision 3.
6.18 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.182, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
6.19 Subd. 3.Term of license and renewal.The Professional Educator Licensing and
6.20Standards Board must issue an initial Tier 2 license for a term of two three years. A Tier 2
6.21license may be renewed three times. Before a Tier 2 license is renewed for the first time, a
6.22teacher holding a Tier 2 license must participate in cultural competency training consistent
6.23with section 120B.30, subdivision 8, and mental illness training under section 122A.187,
6.24subdivision 6. The board must issue rules setting forth the conditions for additional renewals
6.25after the initial license has been renewed three times.
6.26 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
6.27 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.182, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.28 Subd. 4.Application.The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must
6.29accept applications for a Tier 2 teaching license beginning July June 1 of the school year
6Sec. 12.
25-04817 as introduced03/12/25 REVISOR CR/CH 7.1for which the license is requested. At the board's discretion, the board may begin to accept
7.2and review applications before July June 1.
7.3 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
7Sec. 12.
25-04817 as introduced03/12/25 REVISOR CR/CH